Introduction to Career Development Interventions Publisher to insert cover image here Chapter 1 Introduction to Career Development Interventions Developed by: Jennifer Del Corso

Defining Key Terms Career Career Development Career Development Interventions Career Counseling Career Education Career Development Programs Career Development Practicioners

Career View career as lifestyle rather than limiting the definition of career to work Super (1976) defines career as the course of events Career is the total constellation of roles played over the course of a lifetime (Herr, Cramer, & Niles, 2004) 3

Career Development The lifelong psychological and behavioral processes and contextual influences shaping one’s career over the life span A person’s creation of a career pattern, decision-making style, integration of life roles, expression of values, and life-role self-concepts 4

Career Development Interventions Activities provided in a variety of formats (i.e. individual, group, programs, education, or computer delivery systems) that that empower people to cope effectively with career development tasks-- development of self-awareness development of occupational awareness learning decision-making skills acquiring job search skills adjusting to choices after their implementation coping with job stress 5

Career Counseling A formal relationship in which a professional counselor assists a client or group of clients to cope more effectively with career concerns through establishing rapport. assessing client concerns. establishing goals. intervening in effective ways. evaluating client progress. 6

Career Education The systematic attempt to influence the career development of students and adults through various types of educational strategies -- including providing occupational information. infusion of career concepts into the academic curriculum. offering of worksite-based experiences. offering career planning courses. 7

Career Development Program A systematic program of counselor-coordinated information and experiences designed to facilitate individual career development (Herr & Cramer, 1996) These programs typically contain goals, objectives, activities, and methods for evaluating the effectiveness of the activities in achieving the goals. 8

Career Development Practitioners Vocational or Career psychologists (Doctoral Degree)- work in private practice, university counseling centers, corporate settings, and community-based agencies; Licensed Professional Counselors (Masters or Doctoral Degree)- work in similar settings to psychologists but also work in schools Career Development Facilitators (Completed 120 hours of training with an approved provider)- work primarily in employment centers, schools, and postsecondary settings offering career education and assistance in resume writing, interview skills, and networking 9

Misconceptions About Career Counseling Focuses on occupational information and test administration Requires different and less sophisticated skills Requires the counselor to be directive or a career expert Is separate from mental health counseling 10

Career Development Interventions The skills and techniques required encompass and extend those required in more general counseling. The focus of counseling is to increase life satisfaction. Clients need a high level of self-awareness to translate their experiences into meaningful career choices. 11

Career Development Interventions People often need help in clarifying their values, life-role salience, interests, and motivation as they attempt to make career choices. Many clients come to career counseling with psychological distress, low self-esteem, weak self-efficacy, and little hope that the future can be more satisfying than the past. 12

Skills, Behaviors, and Attitudes People Need to Manage Careers Learn new skills, cope with change, and tolerate ambiguity Acquire general and specific occupational information Interact with diverse co-workers Adjust to changing work demands Use technology 13

Characteristics of Effective Interventions Holistic, comprehensive, and systematic Address all life and work roles Address mental health Address relationships with others Provided developmentally across the life span 14

Providing System Career Development Interventions Effective career interventions help children, adolescents and adults: (1) learn how to use both rational and intuitive approaches in career decision making, (2) become clear about the importance and values they seek to express through participating in various life roles, (3) cope with ambiguity and change, (4) develop and maintain self-awareness (5) develop and maintain occupational and career awareness, (6) maintain relevant skills and knowledge, 15

Providing System Career Development Interventions 7) engage in lifelong learning, (8) search for jobs effectively, (9) provide and receive career mentoring, (10) develop and maintain skills in multicultural awareness and communication. 16

Meaning of Work Across Time The way in which individuals have viewed differs throughout history- Survival (primitive societies) Opportunity to share with others (early Christians) Means of spiritual purification (Middle Ages) Way to serve God (Protestant Reformation) 17

Meaning of Work Across Time Opportunity for self-sufficiency and self-discipline (19th century) Challenge to find a fitting long-term career (20th century) Means to self-fulfillment (21st century) 18

Linking Work with Worth Research supports importance and centrality of work If a person has a “successful career”,- tend to attribute positive qualities to them Work provides social interactions, fulfillment of social/personal needs; and a sense of personal identity/meaning Self-worth is dependent upon how individuals feeling about their work contributions High levels of career uncertainty and occupational dissatisfaction correlate with high levels of psychological and physiological distress 19

Problems with Linking Work with Worth Occurs when individuals: develop unrealistic expectations for work have not explored a variety of career options feel that their skills are underutilized feel unable to manage numerous career transitions/tasks  

Providing Systematic Career Development Interventions Need to be developmental (children, adolescents, adults) and multicultural Use both rational and intuitive approaches in career decision making Help individuals cope with ambiguity and change Help develop and maintain self-awareness Help develop and maintain occupational and career awareness 21

Providing Systematic Career Development Interventions continued Maintain relevant skills and knowledge Engage in lifelong learning Help individuals search for jobs effectively Provide and receive career mentoring Help individuals develop and maintain skills in multicultural awareness and communication 22

Important Events in the History of Career Development Interventions Highlights: Career development interventions began with Frank Parsons (Parsonian approach) Parson's approach became the foundation for the trait and factor approach WWII necessitated personnel testing and placement activities to match individuals to occupations

Important Events in the History of Career Development Interventions (continued) Highlights: Donald Super then influenced the field by emphasizing the developmental aspects of career Career Guidance systems in the 1970's led to an emphasis on career education Career development interventions today address the needs of diverse clients and incorporate technology

Beginning with the Parsonian Approach Introduced by Frank Parsons Step 1: Develop a clear understanding of yourself -- aptitudes, abilities, interests, resources, limitations, and other qualities. Step 2: Develop knowledge of the requirements and conditions of success, advantages and disadvantages, pay, opportunities, and prospects of jobs. Step 3: Use true reasoning to relate these two groups of facts. 25

Basic Assumptions of Trait-and-Factor Theory Because of one’s psychological characteristics, each worker is best fitted for a specific type of work. Workers in different occupations have different psychological characteristics. Occupational choice is a single, point-in-time event. 26

Basic Assumptions of Trait-and-Factor Theory (cont.) Career development is mostly a cognitive process relying on rational decision making. Occupational adjustment depends on the degree of agreement between worker characteristics and work demands. 27

Later Developments Testing movement (early 20th century) Formation of NVGA (1913) Formation of Department of Labor (1913) Vocational Rehabilitation Act (1918) Formation of United States Employment Service (1933) First edition of Dictionary of Occupational Titles (1939) 28

Later Developments (cont.) Increased personnel testing and placement (World War II) Carl Roger’s book Counseling and Psychotherapy (1942) Formation of APA Division 17 (1947) Formation of APGA (1951) Theory development (1960s) 29

Later Developments (cont.) Increase in number of career assessments (1960s) Development of computer-assisted career planning systems (late 1960s) Career education as a national priority (1970s) Attention to the career development of diverse populations (1990s) 30

Factors Influencing 21st Century Career Development Global unemployment Corporate downsizing Rising trend towards part-time work Dual careers Work from home Intertwining of work and family roles Many job shifts Need for lifelong learning Social media 31

Ways to Construct Responsive Interventions in the 21st Century View career decisions as values-based decisions Offer counseling-based career assistance (move beyond assessment) Provide multicultural career interventions for specific populations such as immigrants, persons with disabilities, GLBT, and other ethnic minorities Focus on multiple life roles Seek to incorporate social justice and advocacy 32